Pizza Casserole
This hearty pizza casserole is the perfect family meal, and it will satisfy everyone’s pizza craving! This is a loaded pizza casserole made with pasta and all the toppings.
This pizza casserole brings all the comforting flavors of a classic pizza into an easy, family-friendly bake. The combination of pasta, hearty sauce, and plenty of melted mozzarella makes it an instant crowd-pleaser. It’s one of those dishes that feels nostalgic and satisfying, especially on busy weeknights when you want something warm and filling.
You can customize the flavors just as you would with a regular pizza. Add your favorite meats, swap in different vegetables, or dial the spice up or down. It’s also a great option for feeding a group — the casserole bakes up beautifully and reheats well, so leftovers are just as good the next day.
What You’ll Like About This Dish
Customizable flavors. You can easily change the toppings and seasoning to match your favorite pizza style.
Hearty comfort food. The mix of pasta, meat, sauce, and cheese makes this a filling, satisfying meal.
Easy to assemble. Everything comes together in one baking dish for simple prep and cleanup.
Great for leftovers. The casserole reheats well and stays flavorful even the next day.
Ingredient Notes
- Rotini or fusilli – Twisty pasta shapes help hold the sauce well.
- Ground beef or Italian sausage – Either works; sausage gives a more classic “pizzeria” flavor.
- Onion and bell pepper – Add texture and sweetness to balance the sauce.
- Pizza sauce – Use your favorite brand for dependable flavor.
- Crushed or diced tomatoes – Add body to the sauce and keep it from being too thick.
- Black olives – Optional, but add a nice salty contrast.
- Pepperoni – Provides classic pizza flavor throughout the casserole.
- Mozzarella – Melts beautifully for that essential cheesy topping.
Steps to Make Pizza Casserole
- Cook the pasta until al dente and drain it.
- Brown the meat with the onion in a large pan.
- Add the peppers, garlic, and seasonings and cook briefly.
- Stir in the sauces, tomatoes, olives, and pepperoni.
- Combine the cooked pasta with the sauce mixture.
- Layer half the pasta mixture in the baking dish and add a layer of cheese.
- Add the remaining pasta and finish with the rest of the cheese.
- Bake until the casserole is hot and the cheese has melted.
Tips
- Use part-skim mozzarella if you want a slightly lighter casserole without losing meltability.
- Reserve a handful of pepperoni slices for the top if you want a more “pizza-like” look.
- Let the casserole rest for a few minutes after baking to make slicing and serving easier.
- Add mushrooms or spinach if you want extra vegetables without changing the texture too much.
Recipe Variations
- Supreme style. Add mushrooms, sliced green olives, and a little extra bell pepper.
- Meat lover’s. Use sausage and add a handful of cooked bacon or diced ham.
- Veggie version. Skip the meat and load the casserole with mushrooms, spinach, zucchini, or extra peppers.
- Spicy version. Add more crushed red pepper or stir in some sliced jalapeños.
What To Serve With a Pizza Casserole
- Add a tossed salad with a light vinaigrette.
- Serve with focaccia, breadsticks, or garlic bread.
- Make a fresh side, such as a broccoli crunch salad.
- Offer pickled vegetables, such as pepperoncini or giardiniera.
How to Store
Refrigerate leftover pizza casserole in an airtight container for up to 4 days. It keeps its texture well and reheats nicely.
For longer storage, freeze portions tightly wrapped or packed in freezer containers for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
Reheat in the oven or microwave until hot. Add a small sprinkle of cheese on top if needed to refresh the texture.
Pizza Casserole
Ingredients
- 8 ounces rotini , or fusilli
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef, or Italian sausage
- 1 cup onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup bell pepper, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper, or to taste
- 1 1/2 cups pizza sauce, 1 jar, about 14 ounces
- 1 14.5-ounce can tomatoes, diced
- 1 2 1/4-ounce can black olives, sliced, drained
- 6 ounces pepperoni, sliced
- salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 16 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
Instructions
- Lightly grease a 9- x 13-inch baking dish and heat the oven to 350 F.
- Bring a pot with 3 to 4 quarts of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook following the package directions for al dente. Drain and set aside.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven or large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the ground beef or sausage and onion and cook while breaking up and stirring until the onion is translucent. This will take about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain off and discard excess grease.
- Add the bell pepper and garlic and continue cooking for 1 to 2 minutes, until the meat is no longer pink.
- Add the Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, pizza sauce, tomatoes, olives, and pepperoni to the ground meat. Heat until the sauce begins to simmer. Taste and add salt and freshly ground black pepper, as needed.
- Combine the meat and sauce mixture with the drained pasta. Toss to blend thoroughly.
- Spoon half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top with half of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Spoon the remaining pasta mixture over the cheese layer and finish with the remaining cheese.
- Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, until the casserole is hot and bubbly and the cheese is thoroughly melted.
Nutrition
Disclaimer:
Our nutritional information is based on a third-party application that analyzes the ingredients list to determine the values. The information is meant to be helpful, but should be considered an estimate. Values may differ depending on measurements, brands, serving variations, and database availability.
